Abstract:
The flow induced by the sudden contact between a semi-infinite
expanse of gas and a solid, initially at different temperatures, is
examined on the basis of a linear continuum theory. For times large
compared with the mean time between molecular collisions in the gas,
the velocity and pressure disturbances are found to be concentrated
around a wave front propagating out from the interface at the ambient
isentropic sound speed, whilst, near to the interface, these disturbances
are small and the gas temperatures are nearly equal to those predicted
by the classical constant pressure heat conduction theory.
The possible significance of these results in connection with
reflected shock wave techniques to measure high temperature gas
properties is commented upon.
